Costas N. Triantafilos, owner of Costas Inn in Dundalk, died from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning on Monday, his son Pete Triantafilos confirmed to The Baltimore Sun.
“It’s just a shock,” said Pete Triantafilos, who is chief operating officer of the popular restaurant. “The love and affection pouring out, the phone calls, texts, Facebook posts and emails. It’s been incredible and overwhelming. What he meant to this community just speaks volumes.”
According to the Baltimore County Fire Department, first responders were called to the 11200 block of Old Carriage Road in Glen Arm for a reported cardiac arrest at a residence. Upon arrival, fire department air monitoring equipment alerted crews to dangerously high carbon monoxide levels.
Crews quickly removed an unresponsive woman, identified as Triantafilos’ wife Mary, from the home and soon discovered a second victim, an adult male identified as Costas Triantafilos, who would have turned 86 on April 11.
Upon investigation, personnel determined that a vehicle left running in an attached garage was the cause of the dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.
Pete Triantafilos said that Costas Triantafilos left the restaurant Sunday, drove home and inadvertently left the car running. Costas Triantafilos was getting ready for work at 8 a.m. the next morning when he collapsed.
Mary Triantafilos called 911 because she thought her husband had a heart attack. Paramedics arrived and Mary Triantafilos was transported to Maryland Shock Trauma. Costas Triantafilos was taken to University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson where he passed away.
Mary Triantafilos could be released from the hospital late Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Pete Triantafilos.
The couple were married for 64 years.
“She is broken-hearted. She can’t believe he’s gone,” Pete Triantafilos said. “And we can’t either. … He was in such good health. His cardiologist said that he’ll live to be 100. He was youthful and energetic and working every day. He was on the go all the time.”
Costas Triantafilos ran the family-owned business with his two sons, Pete and Nicholas, daughter Christine and other family members. The business was founded in 1971.
“He was incredibly special,” said Chrys Kefalas, Costas Triantafilos’ godson and nephew. “He was always at the restaurant. I know some people say he worked every day of his life, but that is what made him happy. Being with other people made him happy and spreading joy made him happy. It really brought him joy to go into the restaurant and see his family.”
“He was everyone’s favorite person. Everyone loved him,” Kefalas said. “No one had a negative word about him. He was a class act, an incredible human being and put his heart out for everybody. He is going to be incredibly missed.”
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